Valley-gutter for greenhouses.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.,

J. L. DILLQNL VALLEY GUTTBR 30R GREENHOUSES.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 21, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

l vita cacao attic/mint m: NORMS vzrsns co. FHOTOUTNO. wasumsrbu. n cy UNITED STATES Patented May 12, 1903. I

PATENT OFFICE.

VALLEY-GUTTER FOR GREENHOUSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,089, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed June 21, 1902. $erial No. 112,656. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN LLOYD DILLON,

a citizen of the United Statesyresidihg at Bloomshurg, in the county of Oolumbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valley-Gutters for Greenhouses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valley-gutters for greenhouses; and the principal object of the same is to provide an effi'cient means for gathering the water of condensation which accumulates upon the inner surface of the sashes forming the roofs of greenhouses and similar structures, as well as the rain-water that may fall on the exterior of said sashes.

Other objects will become apparent upon further description of the invention.

The invention primarily consists of a valley-gutter of a particular form composed of a combination of materials that will resist corrosion and decay, the improved device being of integral structure within certain lengths and capable of having nails or other fastenings driven thereinto with the same holding power or resistance as is resident in wood.

The invention further consists of the details of construction andarrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is atransverse' vertical section through the eaves of twogreenhouses and the improved valley-gutter which is applied in operative position thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective View of a portion of the improved valley-gutter. Fig.

is molded or otherwise shaped and is formed with a main way 2, having upstanding slightly outwardly inclined side guards 3, provided with upper inverted-V-shaped edges 4, the inclined members of said edges being disposed at such an angle as to form tight joints with the lower glass plates or panes 5 ,of the sashes 6, of which the roofs of the greenhouses are made up. The formation of these tight joints and" the outward inclination of the side guards 3 insure the flow of water from the upper surface of the sash or panes of the latter into the way 2 without liability 'of the water seeping or leaking through the joints formed between the upper edges of the sides guards 3 and the lower panes 5.

side guards and from the latter falls into the ways 8. The outer inclined members of the upper edges of the said guards facilitate the direction of the water of condensation from the inner'sides of the 'sash' into the ways 8, and in the extreme event that the water from the exterior leaks through the joint between the panes 5 and the upper edges of the side guards 3 said water will also" be directed into the ways 8.

To strengthen the improvedgutter, a sheetmetal or other analogous:'- reinforce 9 is inserted thereinand extends longitudinally thereof, said'reinforce havingupwardly-projecting side flanges 10, partially extending through the side guards 3, thereby reinforcing the gutter to such an extent a'sto cause it to withstand considerable weight-pressure and serve to support the eaves of adjacent greenhouses. As additional means of strengthening the gutter iron or other metal bars 10 are disposed in the gutter adjacent tov the inner bottom portions of the ears 8 and prevent breakage of the latter, and extending. upwardly through the supplemental walls 'Zare similarly-shaped reinforcing metallic plates 10", the bars 10 and plateslO extending'full length of the several sections of the'gutter and by their locations obstructing any tendency toward fracture of the parts engaged thereby.

To hold the gutter up in place, uprights 11 will be employed and arranged at suitable intervals, and it is obvious that it will be more expeditious to constructthe improved gutter in certain lengths or sections. By this means a differentiation in the length of greenhouses can be more readily accommodated without material waste in the use of the improved gutter, and in arranging the sections in operative position the conterminous ends of the same are closely disposed, as indicated by Fig. 3, and the terminals of the contiguous sections are connected by broad metallic clips 12, having ears 13 at opposite sides through which bolts 14, em bedded in the gutter, are passed and have securing-nuts bearing against the said ears. The bars 10 are welded to the heads of the bolts before the said bars and bolts are placed in position in the gutter, and a reliable rigid support or connection is thus provided for the bolt, as well as an additional reinforce through the use of the bars. The opposite ends of the clips are also formed with upturned flanges 16, conforming in contour and closely bearing against the outer surfaces of the supplemental walls 7, and thereby also serve as braces'for the latter. By using the broad connectingclips 12 the jointsof the gutter are prevented from leaking, and in some instances, if desired, a suitable filling or waterproof substance may be interposed between the conterminous ends of the several lengths or sections. Extending downwardly from the center of each clip are securing-flanges 17 to embrace and be secured to the opposite sides of the uprights 11 to hold the gutter in place. It will be understood that it is proposed to make the uprights either of wood, iron, or composition and of eithersolid or hollow form.

The integral construction of the parts of each length or section of the gutter is a material advantage in disposing the improved device in operative relation to the eaves of greenhouses and also economical from a manufacturing standpoint. The composition of materials of which the gutter is made up obstructs corrosion and decay, and the improved device is therefore rendered more durable.

It will be seen that the supplemental walls 7 do not extend upwardly as high as the side guards 3, but the vertical extent of said walls may be varied, and, furthermore, changes in the dimensions, proportions, and minor details maybe resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A valley-gutter having a central way with upwardly-projecting outwardly-inclined side guards and supplemental walls continuing outwardly from the bases of the said guards to provide auxiliary ways completely separate from and parallel with the main way and in close relation to the latter, the upper ends of the supplemental walls being below the upper ends of the side guards and the latter having inclined outer surfaces to direct water of condensation collecting thereon into the auxiliary ways, a reinforcing device embedded below the upper surface of the central way and having members projecting upwardly into the guards, and other reinforcing devices embedded in the gutter below the upper surfaces of the auxiliary Ways and projecting upwardly into the supplemental walls.

2. A valley-gutter having a central way with u pwardly-projecting outwardly-inclined side guards and supplemental walls continuing outwardly from the bases of the said guards to provide auxiliary ways completely separate from and parallel with the main Way and in close relation to the latter, the upper ends of the supplemental walls being below the upper ends of the side guards and the latter having inclined outer surfaces to direct water of condensation collecting thereon into the auxiliary ways.

3. A valley-gutter for the purpose set forth having a central way with upwardly-projecting outwardly-inclined side guards, and supplemental walls continuing outwardly from the outer portions of the bases of the said guards to provide auxiliary Ways located below the plane of the upper surface of the central way, the upper edges of the guards being of inverted-V-shaped form, all the parts being of integral construction.

4. A valley-gutter for the purpose set forth, having a main way with opposite upwardlyextending outwardly-inclined side guards, and supplemental walls at a distance from the outer sides of the said guards to form auxiliary ears, a reinforce extending longitudinally through the body of the gutter and having upwardly-extending flanges located in the side guards, reinforcing-plates shaped to conform to and extending through the supplemental walls, and bars embedded in the gutter adjacent the lower inner portions of the auxiliary ways and having depending bolts secured thereto.

5. A valley-gutter for the purpose set forth, made up of a series of conterminously-arranged sections, bolts depending therefrom,

broad connecting-clips secured over thejoints of the sections by the said bolts and having depending flanges, the said flanges being adapted to be secured to a support.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LLOYD DILLON.

Witnesses:

J. G. BUTTER, Jr., M. J. BUTTER.

IOC 

